A Small Town in Idaho Debates LGBT Nondiscrimination Bill

Pocatello, Idaho, a small town in southeastern Idaho, is looking to pass an LGBT nondiscrimination bill at a city council meeting tonight—a bill set to "protect members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community when it comes to housing, employment or public accommodations," according to the Idaho State Journal.

The reader poll next to that article online, asking if the nondiscrimination ordinance should be passed, is currently at 53 percent "no." Meanwhile, yesterday, the paper reported on a "threat" to a city council member over the vote:

Councilman Jim Johnston said he received a call on his cellphone Saturday from local businessman Kevin Lish. Johnston says that Lish told him he would take his business to Idaho Falls if Johnston didn’t vote in favor of the nondiscrimination ordinance. The Pocatello City Council is set to discuss the ordinance on Thursday.

Johnston said he felt the call was a threat, and it frustrated him. He said it’s not fair to do something to hurt Pocatello’s economy over decisions made by city officials.